Adventure to the world's southern tip

We fly to Santiago de Chile in early March, and from there we want to see Tierra del Fuego and Torres del Paine. We then want to travel overland through Patagonia and the Lake District before continuing north.

How long should we allow to see Tierra del Fuego and Torres del Paine? I've heard you can get a ferry from Punta Arenas to Puerto Montt. We would miss Patagonia, but is this a better option?
Tulwinder Mudahar, Brixton

The southern end of the world rewards adventurous people who can tolerate its extreme wet and windy weather. You should be able to do all I set out below in three weeks.

Reaching the far south overland is a bum-breaking three-day trip through Argentina. The best way to Patagonia is by bus from the capital to Osorno, Pucon or Puerto Montt, the gateways to the Lake District. There is stunning scenery, rafting, trekking and climbing - well worth a few days.

From Puerto Montt, catch a Navimag ferry through the fjords to Puerto Natales. Visit www.navimag.com for sailings and prices. Reservations are essential. Puerto Natales is the starting point for excursions to Torres Del Paine national park. Bus shuttles run daily.

Going south from Puerto Natales to Punta Arenas feels like travelling through real Patagonia, with wild trees bent by wind, huge estancias and lots of sheep.

Spend a day or so in Punta Arenas, and visit the Seno Otway penguin colony. Then go by ferry to Tierra Del Fuego and on by bus to Ushuaia, the world's southernmost city.

A flight back north can allow you to explore the southern half of Argentina.

Taking baby to the sun

I am due for a few week's leave with my family in July and August after being away in the Army in Kuwait and Iraq for about four months. Do you have any holiday suggestions, and can you recommend any resources for travelling with babies and toddlers?
The Rev K. D. Mentzel

You can't go far wrong by taking young children close to water. I'd imagine you'll be after some relaxation and quiet, plus somewhere that's keen on children, so why not try Corsica?

Your youngsters are sure to be cooed over, there's plenty of sunshine and the beaches, in the south in particular, are great for families.

Voyages Ilena (020 7924 4440) offers a good range of accommodation throughout the island.

The downsides? July and August are peak season throughout Europe, so make sure you book ahead. And Corsica will be at its hottest.

If you fancy somewhere a little milder you could look further north. Finland is child- friendly, well equipped and easy to get around, and its summer weather is generally good. A lakeside cabin offers a calm retreat. Again, book in advance. The Finnish Tourist Board (020 7365 2512) can put you in touch with companies which let cottages.

For further reading, Lonely Planet's Travel with Children has tips on getting the best from family holidays. Sarah Tucker's Have Toddler, Will Travel (Hodder Mobius; £10.99) is a good companion volume. There's also useful reading at www.family-travel.co.uk.

Fun for a ski widow

I have just married and want to take my wife on my usual skiing holiday, but she is totally against it. She will gladly go to a skiing resort, but she does not want to ski! Can you recommend resorts where I can ski at intermediate level in the mornings, and my wife can take sauna treatments, toboggan rides and the like independently, then we could meet up in the afternoons?
James Clifford-Cox, Westgate on Sea

Virtually all resorts now cater for non-skiers with a range of activities, sightseeing trips and leisure facilities. In Austria the spa towns of Bad Gastein and Bad Hofgastein have steaming pools, saunas and other health treatments. You can contrast a morning relaxing in a hot tub with an afternoon tobogganing or paragliding. In the evening you can both take a romantic horse-drawn sleigh ride.

In France, the beautiful medieval town of Megève is a great place to shop, with trendy boutiques and quality antique shops. It has ice-skating, swimming, indoor tennis and Turkish baths for winding down. A must is an aerial tour over Mont Blanc massif and the captivating surrounding scenery. Day tours to Chamonix and Geneva can be arranged.

In North America the scene is similar, with lots of ski alternatives, from cooking courses to sleigh rides. Visit www.resortspace.com for information on resorts there and in Europe.

California without a car

My boyfriend and I, both under 25, are thinking of going to California in September to see Disneyland and Universal Studios, after a similar holiday in Florida last year.

We are thinking about visiting Knott's Berry Farm Theme Park and Hollywood, as well as the beach. Will we need a car?
Louisa Reynolds, Southampton

Contrary to popular belief Los Angeles has a comprehensive, fairly efficient public transport system, so getting around the city itself should be no problem. Its buses and trains are run by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, whose website has timetables and fares.

Both Hollywood and Universal Studios are served by the Metro Red Line subway, and the Metro Blue line goes to Long Beach. There are several buses from the city centre to Venice Beach if you want to strut your stuff with the beautiful people.

To get to Anaheim and Disneyland, take the airport bus from the airport itself or travel on the Greyhound which has frequent departures from downtown. The airport bus will also take you on to Knott's Berry Farm.

Alternatively, take an organised tour to some of the places you want to visit. Your hotel or the LA tourist office will have information. Another firm, All Los Angeles Tours, has coach trips taking in movie stars' homes, to the theme parks and to San Diego and Tijuana in Mexico. These are usually fairly expensive - a four-hour tour of LA by night is $47 (£28) per person - but they can be a good way to get a feel for the city.

Over to you... readers' feedback

Kev Murphy of Nottingham wrote ( Letters, 17 May) about organising a trip to watch the French football club, R.C. Lens. I have some points to add:

French evening matches kick off at 8pm so ensure you have a hotel near the ground or a driver to get you there. The Hotel Espace Bollaert is next to the Lens stadium.

The French Football Association can change the day of a game from a Saturday to a Friday or Sunday - sometimes at short notice - to meet the needs of TV. You will not find out from their websites until the last minute. A good way to check is by using the Canal Plus site.

If you are travelling from northern England to Lens using Eurostar, you will get the best prices by booking on the web six weeks before. A return shouldn't be more than £100.

The atmosphere at R.C. Lens is electric. For the best atmosphere try to get in the Tribune section, known as the Kop.

Visiting the war graves is a must: you will understand why in this part of France the British are genuinely loved.
Andy, Stoke-on-Trent

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